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Earnshaw hat-trick saves Cardiff draw

By Simon Fudge

Last Updated: 01/01/70 1:00am

CARDIFF CITY missed the chance to overtake Crewe Alexandra in the automatic promotion place in Division Two, following a dramatic 3-3 draw with fellow promotion-chasers Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

A hat-trick by The Bluebirds' Robert Earnshaw was not enough to give the Welsh side all three points, as the visitors nearly lost the match in the final stages.

The first goal did not arrive until ten minutes before the break, when Earnshaw gave Lennie Lawrence's men a 1-0 half-time lead.

However, The Wirral club were soon level just after the break when Simon Haworth made it 1-1.

Earnshaw restored Cardiff's lead mid-way through the second period but ten minutes later, Canadian international Iain Hume brought Ray Mathias' side back to 2-2.

The Prenton Park crowd then saw a frenzied finish to the contest, with the home side taking the lead for the first time in the match through Gary Jones with a minute to go.

But Earnshaw would not be denied his third and with Tranmere still celebrating their 3-2 lead, the Wales international ran down in injury time to make it 3-3 and salvage a point for the Ninian Park club.

The result leaves Cardiff third in Division Two but level on points with Crewe while Tranmere move to within a point of the final play-off place, currently occupied by Queens Park Rangers.